Instead of soft music, PIA to now welcome passengers with Qaseeda Burda Sharif

E-Paper | July 24, 2026

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to welcome passengers on board with the Qaseeda Burda Sharif playing in the background, instead of soft music.

A rendition of the Qaseeda Burda Sharif, a popular Islamic hymn, will be played while passengers board PIA airplanes for all domestic and international flights, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar told Dawn.com on Wednesday.

The hymn will also be played during taxiing — but only on flights heading to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madina.

The PIA spokesperson denied reports that the national flag-carrier had banned all sorts of music on its flights, saying passengers will have access to the inflight entertainment system available on the aircraft.

PIA flights traditionally also commence with a recitation of the Islamic prayer said at the start of a journey.

Pakistan

PIA: on a wing and a prayer

Malaysia's new Islamic airline takes off, with a prayer

‘Launching new airline easier than reviving PIA’

Tanveer

Jan 16, 2019 11:38pm

Just love burda sharif wont mind ...and would love to start using PIA - get your act together and PIA can become Best in the world again

Recommend 0

Anonymous

Jan 16, 2019 11:47pm

Good initiative by Islamic republic of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Nayyar Rashid

Jan 16, 2019 11:55pm

Instead of this PIA should work on improving the behaviour of flight attendants and it's airplane... These things do not count when there is no overall quality...

Recommend 0

Amjad Wyne

Jan 16, 2019 11:56pm

Music did not destroy PIA and Qaseeda will not save it...the idea that such gimmicks can compensate for theft of property, drug smuggling, people trafficking, poor management and lack of professionalism rampant across PIA is beyond human imagination.

Recommend 0

zia

Jan 16, 2019 11:57pm

I am a regular traveler on one of PK most profitable route between Toronto/Pakistan, None of their in flight entertainment system works, Same is the case with reading lights and other call buttons, Your only enjoyment is to close your eyes and have a nice sleep with a break for hard to digest food.

Recommend 0

Nadeem Yousuf

Jan 16, 2019 11:59pm

I thought PIA needed a revival to survive!

Recommend 0

Reality

Jan 17, 2019 12:04am

Inflight entertainment systems are usually not working on International flights. We had had 2 bad experiences.

Recommend 0

Jawad Asif

Jan 17, 2019 12:10am

Is this really required ?? Let people decide what they want to hear. You please improve services instrad

Recommend 0

Jan 17, 2019 12:29am

And this is how PIA will be revived and cut down on losses. Elephant in the room guys!

Recommend 0

Zak

Jan 17, 2019 12:31am

Just get a new management and revive it.

Recommend 0

WARRIs

Jan 17, 2019 12:36am

Is this going to make the service any better?? Seems just like sacrificing a black goat on the tarmac hoping it will help avoiding a crash!!!

Recommend 0

Patriot

Jan 17, 2019 12:49am

Rather than "Islamisation:" of the airline, improve your service to stay afloat.

Recommend 0

Parvez

Jan 17, 2019 12:52am

These gimmicks can't work. Get on with efficiency.

Recommend 0

Khanm

Jan 17, 2019 12:53am

Would it make is corruption free ...religion should be in heart and soul. Just like listening to music does not make u a musician...

Recommend 0

Ali

Jan 17, 2019 01:01am

A great help that it going to do. Improve service. It trumps everything else.

Recommend 0

Alla Bux

Jan 17, 2019 01:02am

Is this supposed to save the airline? Good luck, then.

Recommend 0

faisalshah

Jan 17, 2019 01:16am

is it for Saudi Airlines or really for PIA? or simply we have definitely become saudi arabia...

Recommend 0

N khan

Jan 17, 2019 01:21am

Yet more gimmicky !!

Recommend 0

Akhtar

Jan 17, 2019 01:22am

PIA also needs to improve its inflight entertainment system. It is a must in todays world. It almost never works and stuff on it is laso very old.

Recommend 0

Gordon D. Walker

Jan 17, 2019 01:30am

How about the music of good service, helpful flight attendants, reliable airplanes, competitive pricing and on time schedules... Gordon D. Walker Canada

Recommend 0

The writer

Jan 17, 2019 01:52am

@zia , You have destroyed the planes through rough use.

Recommend 0

The writer

Jan 17, 2019 01:54am

@Jawad Asif, if people are asked to decide what they want to hear when they board, everyone will need personal headphones and players.

Recommend 0

Defacto

Jan 17, 2019 01:57am

Great people to fly with!

Recommend 0

Jan 17, 2019 01:57am

how will that help pia survive.

Recommend 0

Sahaid

Jan 17, 2019 02:07am

Now i know they have gotten to the bottom of the problem

Recommend 0

Shahryar Shirazi

Jan 17, 2019 02:10am

Can you please focus in managing this airline rather than playing gimmicks like these ?

Recommend 0

Jamal

Jan 17, 2019 02:19am

I tried PIA one time, and it was terrible experience. Please avoid PIA at all cost.

Recommend 0

Changez Khan

Jan 17, 2019 02:22am

Excellent change by PIA.

Recommend 0

Syed

Jan 17, 2019 02:24am

It's funny they remember only when flying. Otherwise see the Pakistani plays played on pak television

Recommend 0

Javed

Jan 17, 2019 02:31am

@zia , then why are you wasting your hard earned money??

Recommend 0

Ali Sabir

Jan 17, 2019 02:32am

@Nayyar Rashid, ... Hear, Hear.

Recommend 0

Javed

Jan 17, 2019 02:33am

Wake Up... There is no turning around for PIA. Period.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Ali Khan

Jan 17, 2019 02:48am

It's fine as long it's only for specific religious based crowd flights. Not for all flights in my opinion. Pakistan I love you.

Recommend 0

Masood

Jan 17, 2019 02:50am

Please focus on improvement of services. Improve efficiency , punctuality , discipline and overall productivity and professionalism Every thing will fall into place!

Recommend 0

Javed

Jan 17, 2019 02:59am

Burda Shariff would not save PIA from further deterioration but hiring people on merit, hard work, dedication, relevant training and honesty will.

Recommend 0

Omar

Jan 17, 2019 03:14am

@Amjad Wyne, Top Comment....

Recommend 0

ZAK

Jan 17, 2019 03:20am

We as a nation concentrate more on other irrelevant than the actual issues.

Recommend 0

Ijaz

Jan 17, 2019 03:23am

Instead of fixing basic problems at PIA, as usual the powers that be are pandering to religious sentiment. Whilst I enjoy qasida burda sharif, I am not sure it has a place being publicly aired at an audience that may neither understand or appreciate it.

Recommend 0

Observer

Jan 17, 2019 03:31am

Amazing initiative!!

Recommend 0

Omar

Jan 17, 2019 03:31am

I think times are near when we will see air hostess in burka.

Recommend 0

Salman

Jan 17, 2019 03:36am

This is not a decision to be announced for publication . There are better things to be done

Recommend 0

Dr Asif

Jan 17, 2019 03:39am

The lights weren't working. No blankets or pillows on an overnight flight from Manchester to Lahore. The food wasn't even proper airline food. It was covered with foil from a local restaurant. Who are you kidding? It used the best airline back in 2004. Didn't know that in next 16 years; it would fall down to this level.

Recommend 0

Common Sense

Jan 17, 2019 03:52am

What a joke

Recommend 0

Raj

Jan 17, 2019 03:52am

What about non muslims passengers?

Recommend 0

Naeem

Jan 17, 2019 04:04am

When did onboard entertainment work on PIA flights? I traveled three times to Islamabad from London in last 12 months on flight entertainment was not working not even in business class. London to Islamabad route PIA have had a monopoly wait until the summer when BA starts flights again. Over staffed, incompetent, shabby aeroplanes no understanding of what customer service is that’s PIA for you. It hurts me to write this as a Pakistani.

Recommend 0

Uzair

Jan 17, 2019 04:43am

They'll try new paint job, logo, replace music, change uniform, colour schemes, or just about anything besides the core things driving the customers away including reliable schedule, responsible staff and baggage handling, well maintained aircrafts, good customer service and communication etc.

Recommend 0

Mbhatty

Jan 17, 2019 04:50am

Correct. After all the cries of mismanagement and corruption that come up with this. It is typical of this Govt. to talk only but no action or frivolous solutions. Is it going to solve the PIA problems.

Recommend 0

Ali kazmi

Jan 17, 2019 04:57am

@Nayyar Rashid, Why instead of this? Why can't you do this and improve whatever else can be improved?

Recommend 0

Azam Qadeer

Jan 17, 2019 05:06am

I always travelerd on one of PK most profitable route between JFK NY/Pakistan, None of their in flight entertainment system works, Same is the case with reading lights and other call buttons, Your only enjoyment was to close your eyes and have a nice sleep so when you land in Lahore next day were ready for work I miss that flight thanks to unprofessional team

Recommend 0

Nadeem

Jan 17, 2019 05:25am

Only Burda Sharif will not make PIA the airlines it was. Efficiency and hard work is also required for progress.

Recommend 0

IKFan

Jan 17, 2019 05:27am

Good initiative. PIA should make itself more friendly to muslims. Western way of doing things didn't work.

Recommend 0

Bilal

Jan 17, 2019 05:32am

What about for non muslims??

Recommend 0

Jan 17, 2019 05:47am

@zia , sounds excrutiating! Why are you a regular PIA traveler then?

Recommend 0

L.Ahmad

Jan 17, 2019 05:50am

American and European airlines neither recite the Bible nor play the hymns. Airline is a business not a religious class.

Recommend 0

Awalmir

Jan 17, 2019 06:14am

Given the quality of PIA pilots, prayers are the only thing that can help the passengers.

Recommend 0

Khaled

Jan 17, 2019 06:25am

@Amjad Wyne, Very true.

Recommend 0

Shaukat Ashai

Jan 17, 2019 06:46am

One more reason not to fly PÍA. Don’t force religion down peoples throat. If you want to become international player this doesn’t help.

Recommend 0

Hameed Ahmad

Jan 17, 2019 06:51am

These are all gimmicks. Instead they should improve in flight service and bring it in line with other leading airlines.

Recommend 0

EAM

Jan 17, 2019 07:05am

Good move! That should fix everything else

Recommend 0

ARIF UR RAHMAN

Jan 17, 2019 07:23am

Cosmetic changes won't work. Take some real steps to improve the airline.

Recommend 0

M.Jan

Jan 17, 2019 07:31am

It is probably a sign that PIA is now relying on divine assistance to fly it's passengers safely. It is time to get rid of this shambolic entity and start fresh with a new airline run by professionals.

Recommend 0

Tayyab Qader

Jan 17, 2019 07:38am

Honestly speaking, I loved to fly by PIA although I had to take the indirect flight from New York. Unfortunately I decided back in 2005 not to fly by PIA any more due to misbehaviour of its staff. I hope they could improve their staff's dealing with the passengers!

Recommend 0

Rafay

Jan 17, 2019 07:48am

Good. All the 'olds' must change to 'News' in our National Carrier.

Recommend 0

Iqbal Khan

Jan 17, 2019 07:52am

All the problems will be solved now and the airline will come into profit.

Recommend 0

Farhan

Jan 17, 2019 07:55am

Great change..but change needs to happen in delivering quality service. I am sure if sincerity is there it can become one of the worlds best airline. Have faith in yourself and work hard.

Recommend 0

Nadeem Yousuf

Jan 17, 2019 07:57am

@The writer, That's what is made available on any international airline these days!

Recommend 0

Usman L

Jan 17, 2019 07:58am

Hopefully the verses being played will also instruct the air hostesses to be kind and not unduly rude to the paying passengers.. Also less luggage should be” lost” as a part of this program.

Recommend 0

LAHORI KID

Jan 17, 2019 08:09am

That still won't make it profitable

Recommend 0

Rafeeq Zulf

Jan 17, 2019 08:10am

I travel on PIA Toronto to Karachi round trip flights every two months. . ... only because they are cheap and an extra bag is allowed. The staff at PIA are very rude, very careless and very unresponsive. The food is horrible, the entertainment never working condition. Never.

Recommend 0

LAHORI KID

Jan 17, 2019 08:11am

Make changes in the quality of people you hire, people can live with any type of music, as long as they are treated with respect. Get your priorities in order PIA

Recommend 0

Atif

Jan 17, 2019 08:15am

Nice..

Recommend 0

Kaka

Jan 17, 2019 08:26am

Imposition of an Islamic hymn on non-Islamic passengers is Unfair and unethical. This is also going to steer away the non-Islamics further away from travelling on PIA. Not a very wise business decision either I'd say. and what does PIA stand to gain from it? Nothing.

Recommend 0

Dr.M.S.Awan

Jan 17, 2019 08:34am

New look PIA looks good.Changes being introduced by new CEO are a step in the right direction.Hopefully,PIA will attract more passengers and will be a viable 'national flag carrier' in near future.

Recommend 0

fida hussain

Jan 17, 2019 09:34am

great, its will be mind blowing for passengers . Good move by PIA

Recommend 0

Reality Bites

Jan 17, 2019 09:59am

Who cares about music its in the background and usually tuned out. Weed out your sifarishi, incompetent, only working for paychecks and nonserious employees. It's a fact that most of our planes are grounded due to lack of spare parts, we don't have the money to buy those parts, let go overstaffed employees, disband the kitchen services, instead hire a contractor for food. Time to bite the bullets and make tough decisions.

Recommend 0

Khalid khan

Jan 17, 2019 10:23am

When at the verge of collapse they thought this...Islamic symbols should not be used for a corrupt institute..

Recommend 0

Obaid Ur Rehman

Jan 17, 2019 10:26am

Excellent initiative

Recommend 0

RIAZULLAH BAIG

Jan 17, 2019 10:59am

@Amjad Wyne, agree with the truth and ironically they don't seem to be taking any real steps but fooling around only!

Recommend 0

Yasir

Jan 17, 2019 11:41am

Burda Sharif of Quranic recitation will not help until PIA helps itself!!

Recommend 0

sanjeev

Jan 17, 2019 11:48am

Nice Move. Pray when you fly PIA.

Recommend 0

Rubina Jan

Jan 17, 2019 01:57pm

Obviously when the airline is run by incompetent people they can only touch trivial matters which do not bring any improvement. Had there been competent people they would have thought of improving the performance of the airline.

Recommend 0

Jan 18, 2019 01:18am

@Nayyar Rashid, i have always chosen PIA for trip to Pakistan and i found the crew to be cery polite and hospitable. However, I found the attitude of the passengers rude, arrogant and disrespectful. In my opinion passengers need to change their attitude before complaining about the crew. I do agree about the conditions of the planes, it definitely needs a big MASSIVE improvement!

Recommend 0

Jan 18, 2019 01:25am

PIA needs to spend money on improving their aircrafts instead of pocketing all earnings to improve/spoil their own lifestyle

Recommend 0

k p rao

Jan 18, 2019 08:24am

@Alla Bux, Only good management and good intentions can save PIA and not such gimmicks

Recommend 0

Naya Pakistani

Jan 18, 2019 08:50am

very good initiative. more loved if its in Junaid Jamshed voice.

Recommend 0

Sunnyboy

Jan 18, 2019 09:04am

Instead of prayers and hymns, PIA should focus on safety and customer service. Hymns might be another reason, I may never travel on PIA because I like soft music.

Recommend 0

Wahab

Jan 18, 2019 09:05am

Great choice! proud to be a muslim

Recommend 0

kalim

Jan 18, 2019 10:06am

good practice

Recommend 0

observer

Jan 18, 2019 10:30am

Some may approve, others may not, better for P.I.A. to concentrate of their planes, safety, service, training, maintenance, punctuality, cleanliness and hygiene, financing, over staffing, unqualified staff etc. This will not make any difference, only part of our national penchant for hypocrisy, the less the better for the passengers and for P.I.A.

Recommend 0

Liaquat

Jan 18, 2019 10:45am

What about getting fat out of PIA and injecting professionalism in the organization! Soft idea won't change a thing!

Recommend 0

fairplay

Jan 18, 2019 12:49pm

first ensure that only qualified personnel with legal degrees and diplomas are serving on board. jail and fine all offenders, and cancel all benefits permanently, while black listing them from getting any government employment.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Jan 18, 2019 02:07pm

@Amjad Wyne, Spot on.

Recommend 0

Salman

Jan 18, 2019 03:36pm

@The writer, Personnal headphones are provided in good international airlines, and the user has got a list of options for the channels, with personnal screens for every passenger.

Recommend 0

Shahzad

Jan 18, 2019 04:20pm

This is all good but until you don't train your staff properly nothing would change. Recruit people who've interest in what they're doing and then train them and inshaALLAH you'll see PIA would become one of the better if not one of the best airlines in the world.

Recommend 0

Justice

Jan 18, 2019 04:26pm

Improve your service PIA........I lost my luggage from Manchester to Islamabad flight last year. Your rivals (Emirates, Qatar etc) providing profound services.

Recommend 0

Shakeel

Jan 18, 2019 04:57pm

@L.Ahmad, Then you are free to take your business to another airline or another means of transport altogether.

Recommend 0

Ganesh S

Jan 18, 2019 05:40pm

Though I have never heard the Qaseeda, it doesn't sound like a good idea to use religious hymns for secular activity. I only hope Air India doesn't get "inspired" by this move and start recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa (a Hindu devotional hymn) in all its flights. This gimmick just about beats the outdated idea of national governments running airlines, rather than leaving it to the private sector.

Recommend 0

ahmad

Jan 18, 2019 06:05pm

"but only on flights heading to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madina" So this was a clickbait

Recommend 0

Khalid_Toronto

Jan 18, 2019 07:09pm

@Gordon D. Walker, Same can be said of Air Canada.

Recommend 0

Ali

Jan 18, 2019 07:12pm

PIA instead of cosmetic changes should focus on real issue which have devastated the national flag carrier. Ban political unions, "People's Unity" aligned with PPP and "Air Alliance" with PML. Their sole purpose is to give jobs to political workers, who are not qualified or needed. PIA has 800 employees per aircraft, highest in the world, it should be half that. Whenever efforts were made to sack them, these mafia like unions went on strikes. They are the main reason for PIA's failure and bankruptcy. These political unions must be banned, only professional airline unions allowed. The government needs bold restructuring to save PIA.

Recommend 0

Aamir

Jan 18, 2019 07:18pm

Par for the course for PIA. Instead of doing something concrete to improve the financial standing and overall performance of the airline they have decided to play a hymn.

Recommend 0

Adnan A

Jan 18, 2019 07:22pm

Bankrupt airline, accelerating its further demise.

Recommend 0

Alla Bux

Jan 18, 2019 07:31pm

@k p rao, I am aware of that. We also sacrificed a black goat on the tarmac to imrove the efficiency of the PIA but that did not work, I guess and so this gimmick. Fire half the staff and stop money losing flights. That is the only way to make profit.

Recommend 0

Shahdab

Jan 18, 2019 07:46pm

@A, Are you sure you'r talking about PIA ?

Recommend 0

Majeed at Thani

Jan 18, 2019 07:51pm

One is still waiting for the announcement that political appointees have been politely shown the door.

Recommend 0

John hoffman

Jan 18, 2019 08:12pm

Remove excess staff

Recommend 0

Faran

Jan 18, 2019 08:12pm

At least keep the airline secular Sir. Tomorrow people will start offering Namaz in airline and object others for not following..

Recommend 0

Pawan

Jan 18, 2019 08:52pm

This clearly shows how Pakistan gets all its priorities wrong.

Recommend 0

LAHORI KID

Jan 18, 2019 08:58pm

To make business decisions, to overcome the failures of PIA, it’s better to bring stability, quality people, discipline, on time flights, reducing the number of crew per planes, professionalism, courtesy are among other ways to lift PIA’s reputation and increase profitability, focusing on religious ways to impress a few is not the way. PIA is a business, not a madrassa. We have got to get past trying to impress with wrong decisions. PIA could and should corner the market of flying out of Pakistan, PIA should be untouchable.

Recommend 0

Marie Rodrigues

Jan 18, 2019 09:46pm

this is naya pakistan

Recommend 0

Syed Tanwir Hasan

Jan 18, 2019 11:04pm

I am waiting for the day when PIA is closed down.

Recommend 0

AHS

Jan 19, 2019 03:51am

why dont you fix the airline and the planes first

Recommend 0

Omar

Jan 19, 2019 06:13am

PIA is an international airline, it is trying to get more foreign travellers, like it had in the 60’s, and try to to get back to it’s glory days. Being a international carrier it should try to be music neutral on all routes, except on flights to Saudi Arabia.

Recommend 0

Shahzad Kazi

Jan 19, 2019 09:40am

@Tanveer, Great work. This should solve PIA's problems and make it profitable again.

Recommend 0

Mir

Jan 19, 2019 09:49am

And Air hostess will serve passengers in veils....

Recommend 0

Impartial

Jan 19, 2019 02:03pm

Incorrect diagnosis! Will not lead to any cure for the airline sickness!!